But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.

Are today’s readings not meant for everyone who is involved in anyway with the Catholic Church?  We may never know the full scope of demonic behavior that has rocked our Church – what has truly defiled the bride of Christ.  We may never know all the priests/bishops/cardinals/lay people who were involved in this.  What we do know is that God is fully aware of all of these transgressions and God – and only God – will determine the just punishment for those involved.

Having said that, we all need to reflect on our readings today because they speak to all of us.  We are all sinners and we must understand that Satan seeks the ruin of our soul too.  Be vigilant in your prayer life and humble yourself before our God.  The road to God is a very narrow one and we must do everything we can to make sure we remain on that path.

There are a lot of “ifs” in our first reading this morning…

If a man is virtuous—if he does what is right and just,
if he does not eat on the mountains,
nor raise his eyes to the idols of the house of Israel;
if he does not defile his neighbor’s wife,
nor have relations with a woman in her menstrual period;
if he oppresses no one, 
gives back the pledge received for a debt,
commits no robbery;
if he gives food to the hungry and clothes the naked;
if he does not lend at interest nor exact usury;
if he holds off from evildoing,
judges fairly between a man and his opponent;
if he lives by my statutes and is careful to observe my ordinances,
that man is virtuous—he shall surely live, says the Lord GOD.

Our psalm offers hope to achieve those “ifs”…

Create a clean heart in me, O God.

A clean heart create for me, O God;
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.

And the Gospel message is simple…Christ loves His children; Christ wants His children to come to him, to trust in Him.  Shame on all who prevent the children from coming to Jesus.

Children were brought to Jesus
that he might lay his hands on them and pray.
The disciples rebuked them, but Jesus said,
“Let the children come to me, and do not prevent them;
for the Kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”
After he placed his hands on them, he went away.

Do something great for our Lord today – cleanse your heart and be a beacon down that narrow path so your children can follow you safely to God.

God’s will, not mine, be done.

Be not afraid; just have faith.

Jesus, I trust in You.